A year after virtual teaching in higher education: teachers and students’ opinion

La necesidad de transformar la docencia presencial a docencia online debido al COVID-19 supuso un reto para docentes y para alumnos. Lo inesperado de la situación hizo que rápidamente se intentaran establecer estrategias de virtualización que no en todos los casos fueron igual de eficaces. Después de un año de docencia online, es interesante analizar la valoración que tanto docentes como estudiantes realizan a todas estas estrategias y conocer su percepción ante esta situación. En este artículo se recoge la valoración de más de 50 alumnos del grado de Farmacia sobre la docencia online teórica, la docencia online práctica y la evaluación online, destacando las ventajas y limitaciones que suponen estos métodos de enseñanza. También se recoge la valoración de docentes que evalúan de forma positiva todo lo aprendido sobre TICs y nuevas plataformas pero que al igual que los alumnos piensan que el entorno no presencial supone una desventaja para la formación de los alumnos en grados con una importante carga de docencia práctica.The COVID -19 pandemic forced to move from face-to-face teaching to completely virtual teaching, which was a great challenge for both teachers and students. The unexpectedness of the situation led to rapid attempts to establish virtualization strategies, which were not always equally effective. After one year of online teaching, it is interesting to analyze the assessment that both teachers and students make of all these strategies and their perception of this situation. This manuscript collects the analysis of more than 50 students of the Pharmacy degree on both, theoretical and practical online lessons and on online exams, highlighting their advantages and limitations. Teacher’s assessment is also included. On the one hand, teachers positively value all that they have learned about information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the developed online teaching platforms. However, they consider that a completely virtual education impairs the learning, especially in practical lessons.Facultad de Informátic

DoE-based development of celecoxib loaded PLGA nanoparticles: In ovo assessment of its antiangiogenic effect

Abnormal angiogenesis plays a main role in the pathogenesis of many diseases such as cancer, and inflammatory autoimmune disorders among others, and its inhibition represents a potential strategy for their management. Celecoxib (CXB) that is one of the most prescribed selective COX-2 inhibitors and is currently approved for the treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis inhibits angiogenesis. The objective of this manuscript was to design, develop, and characterize polymeric nanoparticles for the parenteral administration of CXB which the aim of facilitating its administration and improving its antiangiogenic activity while decreasing its adverse effects. A Plackett-Burman design was used to optimize the formulation. The PVA concentration, the sonication time, the sonicator amplitude and the CXB:PLGA ratio were selected as independent variables and particle size, polydispersity index, drug loading, and entrapment efficiency as responses. Optimized nanoparticles (formulations F2, F6 and F9) showed a particle size around 280 nm, a low polydispersion (PDI ≤ 0.2), a negative zeta potential around -25mV, a high entrapment efficiency (above 88%) and a controlled drug release for at least 10 days. Moreover, they were physically and chemically stable for at least 3 months when stored at 4°C. Interestingly, CXB-loaded nanoparticles showed a higher angiogenesis inhibition than CXB in solution administered at the same concentration. F9 nanoparticles that were prepared using PVA at 0.5%, a sonication time of 7 minutes, a sonicator amplitude of 80% and a CXB:PLGA ratio of 20:100 were selected as the most suitable CXB-formulation. It represents a promising strategy to administer CXB and improve its efficacy in disorders with pathological angiogenesis such as cancer and arthritic diseases

An All-Organic Flexible Visible Light Communication System

Visible light communication systems can be used in a wide variety of applications, from driving to home automation. The use of wearables can increase the potential applications in indoor systems to send and receive specific and customized information. We have designed and developed a fully organic and flexible Visible Light Communication system using a flexible OLED, a flexible P3HT:PCBM-based organic photodiode (OPD) and flexible PCBs for the emitter and receiver conditioning circuits. We have fabricated and characterized the I-V curve, modulation response and impedance of the flexible OPD. As emitter we have used a commercial flexible organic luminaire with dimensions 99 × 99 × 0.88 mm, and we have characterized its modulation response. All the devices show frequency responses that allow operation over 40 kHz, thus enabling the transmission of high quality audio. Finally, we integrated the emitter and receiver components and its electronic drivers, to build an all-organic flexible VLC system capable of transmitting an audio file in real-time, as a proof of concept of the indoor capabilities of such a system.This Project was funded by Comunidad de Madrid through the SINFOTON-CM Research Program (S2013/MIT-2790), and the Spanish Ministry of Economy, the Agencia Estatal de Investigación and European Union's FEDER through the TEC2016-77242-C3-(1-R, 2-R and 3-R) AEI/FEDER, UE Projects

Resources for the online teaching of Technological Practical Courses: application and validation in Pharmaceutical Technology

Para llevar a cabo la virtualización, es importante adaptar la metodología a seguir, al objetivo, necesidades y contenido de la asignatura. Esto supone un reto a la hora de virtualizar prácticas de laboratorio en materias tecnológicas. Por ello se desarrolló un proyecto con el fin de crear diversos recursos para la virtualización de este tipo de materias. En concreto, el proyecto se centra en la virtualización de prácticas que comprenden la elaboración y control de calidad de comprimidos, la cual está recogida en el temario de la asignatura de Tecnología Farmacéutica I (grado en Farmacia). Para ello, se emplearon vídeolecciones como herramienta docente, ya que favorece los procesos perceptivos y cognitivos durante el proceso de aprendizaje del alumno, y además permite ver los procedimientos, equipos de fabricación y de control de calidad que son los pilares fundamentales en el desarrollo tecnológico de medicamentos. Otra estrategia desarrollada es la evaluación de datos prácticos para aplicarlos a la cumplimentación de un boletín de análisis de control de calidad. Todo ello se implementó en 3 grupos de 12 alumnos que recibieron prácticas semipresenciales y que posteriormente valoraron la utilidad de estos recursos como medio para la virtualización de las prácticas de laboratorio.To carry out virtualization, it is important to adapt the methodology, to the objective, needs and content of the course. E-teaching of laboratory courses of technological disciplines is really challenge. For this reason, a teaching project was developed to create various resources for the virtualization. of laboratory courses that include the production and quality control of tablets, which is included in the syllabus of the Pharmaceutical Technology I discipline (degree in Pharmacy). For this, video lessons were used as a teaching tool, since it favors the perceptual and cognitive processes during the student's learning process, and allows to see the procedures, manufacturing equipment and quality control that are the fundamental pillars in technological development of medications. Another strategy developed is the evaluation of practical data to apply them to the completion of a quality control analysis bulletin. All of this was implemented in 3 groups of 12 students who received blended practices and who subsequently assessed the usefulness of these resources as a means for the virtualization of laboratory practices.Facultad de Informátic

Trivial-to-Learn: Aprendizaje basado en juegos en el área de conocimiento de Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica (TRIVIALFAR)

La sociedad actual demanda a las Instituciones Educativas profesionales que tengan una formación integral que les permita adaptarse al entorno y a los requerimientos sociolaborales. Para ello, es esencial el empleo de metodologías docentes activas, como el aprendizaje basado en juegos, donde el estudiante es el protagonista del proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje. El objetivo principal de este proyecto es diseñar y desarrollar juegos tipo Trivial como estrategia de aprendizaje activo en las asignaturas del área de conocimiento de Farmacia y Tecnología Farmacéutica. Concretamente se han desarrollado dos tipos de actividades: juegos tipo Trivial virtuales en la asignatura de Biofarmacia y Farmacocinética, y juegos tipo Trivial presenciales en las asignaturas de Productos Sanitarios y Tecnología Farmacéutica I. Ambas actividades han resultado ser una excelente herramienta de autoevaluación y repaso de los contenidos impartidos en la asignatura. Los juegos desarrollados en modalidad presencial fueron mejor evaluados por los alumnos que los desarrollados en modalidad virtual. Además, estos juegos presenciales les permitía adquirir competencias transversales, principalmente habilidades comunicativas, de liderazgo y de trabajo colaborativo.Depto. de Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología AlimentariaFac. de FarmaciaFALSEsubmitte

Caracterización reológica y optimización de la textura de purés de patata frescos y congelados: efectos del proceso y adición de crioprotectores

El objetivo general de este trabajo científico es caracterizar reológicamente y optimizar la textura de puré de patata natural (Solanum tuberosum L, cv. Kennebec), tanto fresco como congelado/descongelado, evaluando el efecto de los distintos tratamientos térmicos que constituyen el proceso de congelación (escaldado, congelación, descongelación y conservación al estado congelado), realizados en distintos medios de tratamiento y/o bajo diferentes especificaciones de temperatura-tiempo, así como evaluar el efecto de la adición de diferentes crioprotectores. Para alcanzarlo se consideran tres estrategias clave para mantener o mejorar la calidad de un producto alimenticio sometido a proceso de congelación, como son la velocidad de congelación, la aplicación de un tratamiento térmico previo a la elaboración del puré de patata (escaldado a baja temperatura LTB), y la adición de crioprotectores. Para el desarrollo del trabajo experimental, se han utilizado principalmente ensayos reológicos (oscilatorios y en estado estacionario) y métodos objetivos de evaluación de la textura empíricos e imitativos, así como otras técnicas de análisis de parámetros característicos de la calidad organoléptica (color, análisis sensorial) y del daño celular (grado de sinéresis), además de análisis microestructural. Como conclusión final se obtiene que el puré de patata natural congelado mediante convección forzada de vapores de nitrógeno líquido a -60 °C y descongelado por microondas según las especificaciones de proceso establecidas, permite disponer de un puré de patata de alta calidad tanto para el consumidor como para la restauración colectiva evitando el tedioso proceso de su preparación convencional. Adicionalmente, la aplicación de escaldados LTB (previamente a la cocción de los tejidos de patata con los que se elabora el puré) y la adición de crioprotectores, preferentemente kappa-carragenato o goma xantana en concentración de 1,5 g kg-1, permite la elaboración de purés de patata tanto frescos como congelados/descongelados con textura y color óptimos ajustables a las preferencias del consumidor

Iron-binding ability of melanoidins from food and model systems

Soluble high molecular weight fractions isolated from the development of the Maillard reaction in 22 different model systems and food matrices were studied in order to assess their iron-chelating ability in vitro. Melanoidins and iron were incubated in a Na-acetate buffer (0.1 M, pH 5) at different weight ratios and free iron was measured by FAAS and the bathophenantroline procedure at the steady state. Melanoidins were classified at three levels according to their number of co-ordination sites for iron. Melanoidins from coffee (medium roasted), different types of beer (Pilsener, Abbeys, and dry-stout styles), and sweet wine (Pedro Ximenez) exerted a low iron-binding effect compared with melanoidins from model systems. The type of sugar was shown to be a significant parameter for obtaining melanoidins with high iron ability, and glucose was more efficient than lactose. No relationship was observed between browning and iron binding ability of melanoidins from model systems. The chromophoric residues were not the main co-ordination sites for iron complexation in the melanoidin structure. © 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.Peer Reviewe

Current status of nanomedicine in the chemotherapy of breast cancer

Despite the efforts that have been made in the field of breast cancer therapy, it is a leading cause of cancer death in women and a major health problem. The current treatments combine several strategies (surgery, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, hormone therapy, and chemotherapy) depending on cancer subtype and tumour stage. The use of chemotherapy is required in certain circumstances, like before or after surgery or in advanced stages of the disease. Chemotherapeutic regimens that include anthracyclines (e.g. doxorubicin), taxanes (e.g. paclitaxel), 5-fluorouracil and/or cyclophosphamide show, in general, a high toxicity that limit their clinical use. The use of targeted chemotherapy allows to get a selective location of the drug at tumour mass, decreasing the toxicity of these treatments. An increase of the antitumour efficacy can also be achieved. The use of nanocarriers containing anticancer drugs can be a good strategy to get targeted chemotherapy. In fact, several nanoformulations containing paclitaxel and doxorubicin have been approved or are under clinical trial for breast cancer therapy. The main advantage of these nanomedicines is their lower toxicity compared to conventional formulations, which can be attributed to the elimination of the solvents of the formulation (e.g. Cremophor-EL in paclitaxel conventional formulations) and the more selective location of the drug at tumour site (e.g. cardiotoxicity related to free doxorubicin). However, some adverse events (e.g. hand foot syndrome or infusion reactions) have been related to the administration of some nanomedicines, which have to be considered.Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte (España)Depto. de Farmacia Galénica y Tecnología AlimentariaFac. de FarmaciaInstituto Universitario de Farmacia IndustrialTRUEpu